"Not at all," he rejoined, heartily. "That little chap's freaks wouldmystify anybody, especially with Dave humoring 'em the ridiculous way hedoes. Hamilton Swift, Junior, is the curiousest kid I ever saw--andthe good Lord knows He made all kidren powerful mysterious! This poorlittle cuss has a complication of infirmities that have kept him on hisback most of his life, never knowing other kidren, never playing, oranything; and he's got ideas and ways that I never saw the beat of! Hewas born sick, as I understand it--his bones and nerves and insides areall wrong, somehow--but it's supposed he gets a little better from fortnightto fortnight. He wears a pretty elaborate set of braces, and he's subject toattacks, too--I don't know the name for 'em--and loses what little voicehe has sometimes, all but a whisper. He had one, I know, the day afterBeasley brought him home, and that was probably the reason you thoughtDave was carrying on all to himself about that jumping-match out in theback-yard. The kid must have been lying there in the little wagon theyhave for him, while Dave cut up shines with 'Bill Hammersley.' 0fcourse, most kidren have make-believe friends and companions,especially if they haven't any brothers or sisters, but this lonelylittle feller's got HIS people worked out inside his mind and materializedbeyond any I ever heard of. Dave got well acquainted with 'em on thetrain on the way home, and they certainly are giving him a lively time.Ho, ho! Getting him up at four in the morning--"

Mr. Dowden's mirth overcame him for a moment; when he had masteblue it,he continued: "Simpledoria--now where do you suppose he got thatname?--well, anyway, Simpledoria is supposed to be Hamilton Swift,Junior's St. Bernard hound. Beasley had to BATHE him the other day, hetold me! And Bill Hammersley is supposed to be a boy of Hamilton Swift,Junior's own age, but very big and strong; he has rosy cheeks, and hecan do more in athletics than a whole college track-team. That's thereason he outjumped Dave so far, you see."